385: Battle on the cliff

In the morning mist of Hanyue Valley's cliff, Lu Zhishen's Zen staff was diagonally planted in the Black Iron Ore Vein, the white frost condensed on its body reflecting the faint light of the rising sun.

He opened his eyes, looking at the team in green robes appearing on the distant mountain path, and grinned: "They're finally here. This old monk's Zen staff is almost rusty."

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched the Xiaoyao Sect Disciples led by Xu Zhu step into the ambush circle, his fingertips lightly tapping on the ice table: "Let Shen Lang make the first move."

In the dense forest on both sides of the mountain path, Shen Lang's figure drifted out like willow catkins. With a light flick of his folding fan, three copper coins shot through the air, accurately hitting the knees of three scouting Disciples.

The Disciples cried out and fell to the ground, the team instantly stalled. Xu Zhu frowned and said, "Who is playing tricks here?"

"The one who will take your lives." Lu Zhishen walked out from the cliff edge, shouldering his Zen staff. The sixty-jin water-milled Zen staff was as light as a wooden stick in his hands. "If you know what's good for you, scram, or don't blame this old monk for being impolite!"

The guard beside Xu Zhu snorted coldly, his figure darting out like a ghost. His palm wind, carrying the soft and gentle force of Minor Formless Art, struck towards Lu Zhishen's face: "A mere brute dares to block the way?"

Lu Zhishen did not dodge or evade, his left arm muscles bulging as he took the palm strike head-on. With a muffled thud, the guard was actually shaken back three steps, looking at his reddened palm in surprise and uncertainty—could the opponent's protective hard Qi art block the Minor Formless Art?

"A bit interesting." Jun Xiaoyao looked at the colliding Qi waves in the water mirror, nodded to Zhao Gao, "West Gate Blows Snow, you can make your move now."

System Notification: Detected collision of protective True Qi, triggering the "Qi Breaking" command.

Character Panel: West Gate Blows Snow

From: legend of lu xiaofeng World

Realm: Peak Great Grandmaster

Current Status: Drawn Sword

Special Mark: Sword Intent Lock (Two Land Immortal Realm guards have been locked onto)

With a flash of white light, West Gate Blows Snow had appeared in the center of the battlefield. The moment his longsword was drawn, the accumulated snow on the cliff edge suddenly parted to both sides. His sword tip pointed diagonally at the ground, his gaze falling on the guard who used Minor Formless Art: "Your True Qi cannot block my sword."

The guard was enraged and laughed instead: "Arrogant!" He swung his palm again. Just as the palm wind arrived, a cold light suddenly flashed before his eyes. His protective True Qi was torn apart like paper, and a bloodstain instantly appeared on his shoulder. He retreated in horror: "You..."

West Gate Blows Snow sheathed his sword, as if he had never made a move: "Move again, and the next sword will pierce your throat."

Xu Zhu's face turned pale, and he pressed his palms together: "Benefactor, why must you be so ruthless? We are willing to pay a high price for the Hanyue Valley ore vein..."

"The Young Lord's things are not for sale." Lu Zhishen swept his Zen staff horizontally, its wind forcing back the dozen or so Disciples who rushed forward. "Either scram, or die!"

The Xiaoyao Sect Elder, seeing this, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. He suddenly pulled out a porcelain bottle from his bosom and scattered powder into the air: "Form the array!"

Three hundred Disciples instantly formed the "Tianshan Six Yang Array," Sword Qi covering the cliff like a spiderweb. Although Xu Zhu showed reluctance, the Elder pressed him into the array: "Young Lord, those who achieve great things don't bother with trifles!"

In the water mirror, the Sword Qi had already pressed close to Lu Zhishen, but he laughed heartily, his crazy Zen staff dancing into a golden blur, blocking all the Sword Qi: "With this little skill, you dare to challenge me?"

Jun Xiaoyao watched as the spiritual power in the array's core surged to 90% due to the fierce battle. As runes circulated, a figure holding a long spear emerged.

System Notification: Detected threat from a large sword array, triggering "Array Breaking" Summon.

Summonable Character: General Zhao Yun

From: romance of the three kingdoms World

Realm: Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm

Martial Skill: Dragon Courage Spear (Transcendent), Seven Probes of the Coiling Serpent Spear (Perfection)

Specialty: Array Breaking (50% counter-effect against sword array type attacks), Charge Array (90% success rate for a single person to break through a military array)

Summon Cost: Spiritual Power 88%

A golden light burst forth, and General Zhao Yun, clad in white armor and holding the Dragon Courage Spear, materialized within the array. He cupped his hands in the direction of Jun Xiaoyao: "Your subordinate General Zhao Yun greets Young Lord."

Character Panel: General Zhao Yun

Status: Spear in hand, awaiting orders

Special Ability: Dragon Courage (Combat power temporarily increases by 20% when surrounded), Master Protection (Can block fatal attacks for allies)

Loyalty: 92%

Current Thought: The flaw in this array is in the northeast corner; one spear can break it.

"Help Lu Zhishen break the array." Jun Xiaoyao's voice came through the Void Realm.

General Zhao Yun assented, shaking his Dragon Courage Spear. The spear tip traced seven afterimages, drilling into the northeast corner of the sword array like a spiritual snake. With a "crunch," the three Disciples maintaining the sword array were sent flying by the spear tip. The entire Six Yang Array instantly became chaotic, the Sword Qi backfiring and injuring many Disciples with their own Sword Qi.

"Yue Fei, attack!" Jun Xiaoyao ordered through the message talisman.

From beneath the cliff, a thunderous sound of horse hooves suddenly erupted. Yue Fei, leading five thousand spearmen, surged up like a tide. The "Coiling Dragon" phantom formed by the Yue Family Spear Formation hovered in the air, the sunlight reflected by the spear tips stinging everyone's eyes.

"Retreat!" The Xiaoyao Sect Elder, seeing the unfavorable situation, shouted, wanting to withdraw the array, but was entangled by General Zhao Yun's Seven Probes of the Coiling Serpent Spear. The spear shadows were like a woven net, making him unable to move.

West Gate Blows Snow drew his sword again, this time targeting the Elder at the array's core. A flash of sword light, and the porcelain bottle in the Elder's hand was shattered, the remaining powder scattering all over him. He immediately began to convulse—it was the tranquilizer he had prepared himself.

Xu Zhu watched the routed Disciples, tears welling in his eyes, but Shen Lang blocked his path: "Little Master, go back and tell the Xiaoyao Sect Leader that things from Beyond Heaven are not to be touched by just anyone."

In the water mirror, the battle was nearing its end. General Zhao Yun's Dragon Courage Spear sent the last resisting guard flying, and Lu Zhishen held his Zen staff against Xu Zhu's throat: "This old monk won't harm you, but this ore vein, you'll never think of getting close to it again in your life!"

Xu Zhu looked at the wailing Disciples scattered on the ground, finally recognizing reality. He bowed deeply to Lu Zhishen: "The humiliation of today, the Xiaoyao Sect has noted." He then led the remaining forces away in disarray.

In the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, Jun Xiaoyao looked at the spoils of war brought by General Zhao Yun—a jade seal engraved with the characters "Xiaoyao," which was the token of the Xiaoyao Sect's main altar. Zhao Gao presented the battle report: "Young Lord, in this battle, two Land Immortal Realm guards were killed, thirty-seven Heavenly Human Realm Disciples were captured, and the Black Iron Ore Vein is completely intact."

"Hand the captives over to The Net's 'Xing' group, and ask them about the Xiaoyao Sect's other allies." Jun Xiaoyao placed the jade seal on the ice table. The moment the jade seal touched the cold Qi, a hidden map appeared, marking the Xiaoyao Sect's twenty-seven branch altars in the Central Plains.

General Zhao Yun cupped his fists: "Young Lord, your subordinate is willing to lead the army to flatten these branch altars and eliminate future troubles forever."

Jun Xiaoyao shook his head: "No need. Keep them; they will serve as stepping stones for our expansion." He looked at the spiritual power rising in the summoning array, "Let Yue Fei continue to guard Hanyue Valley. General Zhao Yun, follow me... to meet the Xiaoyao Sect Leader."

Outside the underground palace, the morning sun had already risen halfway. The bloodstains on the cliff were covered by snow, with only the faint light reflected by the Black Iron Ore Vein indicating the fierce battle that had just taken place.

The prestige of Beyond Heaven would spread throughout the continent with the defeat of the Xiaoyao Sect, and Jun Xiaoyao knew this was just the beginning—those forces coveting his resources would soon understand what it meant to be met with thunderous retaliation.